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The bigger the better has long been the Brian Burke way and the Maple Leafs general manager took what he feels will be a large step in that direction here Friday night.

Trading his 30th and 39th picks with the Anaheim Ducks to shoot up to the 22nd selection, Burke collared bruising American forward Tyler Biggs to kick off the first round of the NHL entry draft in style.

“He’s an up-and-down winger with above average foot speed and an excellent level of hostility,” Burke said. “He’s a mean kid — that’s why we went after him.”

Burke and director of scouting Dave Morrison sensed that other teams with picks late in the first round felt the same way about the young American and made sure they weren’t about to snooze and lose out.

In fact, on the team’s own draft list, Biggs was ranked much earlier in the first round which got Morrison all excited and triggered the first rush of movement at the Leafs table on the draft floor.

“We were looking at our list and saying: ‘We’d really like to have this guy, let’s move here,’” Morrison said.

At a burly 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, Biggs was known for his ability to dominate games physically in his time with the U.S. under-18 program and has been described as a fullback on ice.

Biggs obviously likes that rep and had a stock answer at the scouting combine when teams asked him what NHLer he resembled most closely: Milan Lucic.

“Going through the combine, I think that’s the one guy that I tried to compare myself too if they asked,” Biggs said, moments after being picked. “He’s a great player. It’s definitely a good year to say you compare yourself to him.

“If I could be half the player he is, I’d take that right now.”

Burke never scouted Biggs personally but, when he sat down and watched video with his scouting staff, it was clear he was the type of forward that makes him salivate.

“He’s not the kind of guy who is going to back down from anything,” a pleased Morrison said. “He’s one of these kids that if the game isn’t going exactly the way it should be, he’s going to go out and play hard and he’s going to go to the net hard.

“He’s going to open some ice up for his teammates and get the other team thinking a different way.”

How big and tough is Biggs? Put it this way, it is believed he set an unofficial record by piling up 112 minutes with the American national development team.

“It’s not something I’m trying to brag about right now,” Biggs said, although the big smile on his face suggested the opposite may be true.

Though born in Ohio, Biggs has some familiarity with the Toronto hockey having spent his minor midget season in the city where he played for the Jr. Canadiens and coach Darcy Roy.

He made the move to the GTHL essentially to refine his game — “it’s one of the best minor hockey leagues in the world and I wanted to have the opportunity for more exposure,” Biggs said — but also to spend some time with the 25 or so aunts, uncles and cousins who live in the area.

Even without the 39th pick they surrendered to take Biggs, the Leafs figure to have a busy Saturday here in Rounds 2 through 7. Director of scouting Dave Morrison will next be on the clock at No. 86 (acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers and seven other picks.

“I think we are going to get some guys we like,” Morrison said. “It’s one of those drafts.”